Caution urged as more Ohio businesses begin to reopen

With more Ohio businesses planning to reopen in the coming weeks, experts warn that employers should be cautious in their plans to bring employees back on site (Source: “Caution urged as first businesses open today in Ohio,” Dayton Daily News, May 1, 2020).

Dental, veterinarian and medical offices will reopen today, the first businesses considered non-essential to open under Ohio’s new health orders. Non-essential manufacturing, distribution, construction and general office businesses to reopen Monday and retail opening in mid-May with conditions like increased sanitation and social distancing.

Dr. Dawn Wooley, virologist and Wright State University professor, said the pace of reopening shared by the DeWine administration is fairly conservative, but she cautioned that it’s important to remember the virus is going to be with the community even when cases decline to a lower level. “Therefore people still need to be cautious. We do not want a resurgence, but if we’re not careful we’re going to negate everything we’ve done, all of this pain and suffering with the shutdowns will be for nothing,” Wooley said.

The Ohio reopening plans include important layers of protective measures such as social distancing and symptom assessment, face coverings and disinfecting commonly used services.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio recently developed evidence-informed policies and guidelines for reopening its office, which may be used as a starting point for other organizations still in the process of planning for their eventual reopening.